Photosynthesis: The process in
which an autotroph uses light
energy to combine six carbon
dioxide molecules and six water
molecules to form one molecule of
glucose and six molecules of oxygen.
6CO2 + 6H2O + sunlight  C6H12O6 + 6O2
Photosynthesis happens in the
chloroplast
Chloroplasts are green.
Energy from the sun (The electromagnetic
spectrum) travels to the Earth and hits the planet.
White light, the part of the electromagnetic
spectrum we can see, (visible spectrum) can
be split into the different colors:
Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, violet
Pigments are molecules that can absorb and reflect different wavelengths of
light
Chloroplasts have the pigment chlorophyll which absorb sunlight energy.
Chlorophyll REFLECTS green light and absorbs the other wavelengths.
Two Parts to Photosynthesis
• Light DEPENDENT reactions: Chloroplasts absorb
light energy and store it two ways:
– As electrons in molecules called NADPH. Water
replaces the electrons that get stored in NADPH.
– ATP
• Light INDEPENDENT reactions (The Calvin Cycle):
The plant uses the energy stored in the ATP and
NADPH to make glucose from carbon dioxide.
Light DEPENDENT reactions: Chloroplasts absorb light
energy and store it. Happens in the thylakoid
membrane of the chloroplast.
1. Light energy is converted into
chemical energy by exciting
electrons in chlorophyll.
2. Electrons move through an
electron transport chain and
NADP+ is changed to NADPH.
3. Water from the roots of the
plants is used to replace the
electrons in chlorophyll. Oxygen
is released when the electrons
leave water.
4. This process makes ATP.
Light INDEPENDENT Reactions (Calvin Cycle): The
stored energy is used to make sugar (glucose) in the
stroma of the chloroplast using carbon dioxide.
1. Carbon dioxide enters the
leaf from the air.
2. The electrons from NADPH
and the energy from the ATP
are used to make glucose
from the carbon dioxide.
Plants are the base of the food chain
• All heterotrophs, directly or indirectly, get
their food from plants.
• Plants convert solar energy to useable
chemical energy for the entire planet.
• Ultimately, we depend on the sun for our
existence.
Photosynthesis: The process in
which an autotroph uses
______________________________
______________________________
______________________________
______________________________
_____________________________.
6CO2 + 6H2O + sunlight  C6H12O6 + 6O2
Photosynthesis happens in the
chloroplast
Chloroplasts are green.
Energy from the sun (The electromagnetic
spectrum) travels to the Earth and hits the plant.
White light, the part of the electromagnetic
spectrum we can see, (visible spectrum) can
be split into the different colors:
Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, violet
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
Two Parts to Photosynthesis
• Light DEPENDENT reactions:
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
_______________________________:
– As electrons in molecules called NAHPH. Water replaces
the electrons that get stored in NADPH.
– As ___________
• Light INDEPENDENT reactions (The Calvin Cycle):
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
Light DEPENDENT reactions: Chloroplasts absorb light
energy and store it.
___________________________________________.
1._________________________
__________________by
exciting electrons in chlorophyll.
2. Electrons move through an
electron transport chain and
__________________________.
3. Water from the roots of the
plants is __________________
________________. _________
_____________when the
electrons leave water.
4. This process _____________.
Light INDEPENDENT Reactions (Calvin Cycle):
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
1.
________________________
________________________
2. The electrons from
________________________
________________________
________________________
________________________
________________________
Plants are the base of the food chain
• All heterotrophs, directly or indirectly, get
their food from plants.
• _____________________________________
_____________________________________.
• _____________________________________
_____________________________________.